High School Sports

WATSONVILLE—St. Francis High football coach John Ausman doesn’t have much to work with when it comes to building a “powerhouse” program.  The school has roughly 220 students enrolled and the football program brings in about 20% of the student body—40 players—for both junior varsity and...

APTOS—The Aptos High girls’ basketball team found itself back in the rebuilding stage after losing a talented group of seniors due to graduation. Mariners coach Bruce Funk is in a spot the program hasn’t been in for quite some time, but he believes they are...

WATSONVILLE—Monte Vista Christian senior Jacob Woods texted baseball head coach Johnny Ramirez on Friday night prior to their big game in the CIF NorCal Regional finals.   Woods, who recently pitched a seven-inning gem in Tuesday’s Division V first round win, told his skipper he was...

Nearing the end of the regular season, the Monte Vista Christian boys’ basketball team has demonstrated its endurance and find themselves leading the pack as the Central Coast Section playoffs approach. In less than a year, the Mustangs have transformed their previously underachieving record into...

WATSONVILLE—The unofficial credo for the Watsonville High boys’ soccer team this season has been team unity.   The No. 2 seeded Wildcatz were in perfect harmony, per usual, in their 2-0 shutout win against No. 7 Modesto in Tuesday’s opener of the CIF NorCal Regionals Division...

SAN JOSE—It seemed like a third time really was the charm for the Monte Vista Christian baseball team after the first two valiant efforts for a Central Coast Section title ended heartbreaks.  Junior second baseman Cannon Silva and his fellow teammates rushed to the middle...

The St. Francis High baseball team entered last week’s Central Coast Section playoffs against The King’s Academy riding the high of a 15-game winning streak. It was a win-or-go-home scenario and, while both teams gave it all they had, the Knights concluded the Sharks’ season...

The search for a new football head coach at Aptos High is over after the school announced Thursday that Zach Hewett will take over the program for the upcoming 2024 fall season.  The 39-year-old Aptos alum was promoted from his role as JV head coach...

APTOS—Aptos High junior Eddie Alvarez has been slowly making a name for himself as one of the premier soccer players in the area. The Mariners’ superstar forward made a case for himself Tuesday night in a 3-0 shutout win over perennial powerhouse Watsonville High in...

The Pajaronian’s Prep Athletes of the Week were selected based on their performances during the week of Sept. 1-7. Coaches and athletic directors are encouraged to submit nominations to sports editor Juan Reyes at [email protected]. Boys Joseph Dayritt (Sr.), St. Francis: The speedy Shark tailback racked...